Contact: Jill M. Geer
Director of Communications
At the USATF Xerox Media Center: 780-821-4130
http://www.usatf.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, August 8, 2001
Johnson wins third world title
Hysong and Crawford bring home bronze
EDMONTON - Allen Johnson on Thursday night completed his yearlong recovery
from injury in dramatic and heroic fashion, holding off 2000 Olympic gold
medalist Anier Garcia of Cuba to win his third World Championships title in
the 110-meter hurdles.
Olympic gold Nick Hysong won bronze in the men's pole vault and Shawn
Crawford emerged with bronze in a stunning 200m photo finish, boosting Team
USA's medal count in Edmonton to 11 medals, including 4 gold. Team USA
athletes also performed very well in Thursday's qualifying rounds.
The 1996 Olympic champion, Johnson got a terrific start and held off Garcia
over the final two hurdles to win in a world-leading time of 13.04 seconds.
Garcia was second in 13.07 and Dudley Dorival of Haiti was third in a
national-record time of 13.25. Dawane Wallace finished seventh in 13.76.
Johnson had injured his hamstring shortly before the Sydney Olympics and
finished fourth, then had ankle problems during the indoor season. His
performance Thursday showed no trace of those setbacks and gave him another
Worlds gold to add to his titles from 1995 and 1997.
"I really appreciate that I was able to come out here and win this one," aid
Johnson, who never broke stride and he headed right into his victory lap. "I
wanted it extremely badly. I felt like I really, really had something to
prove this time.
"This one (world title) is by far the best. I think the statement I made is,
I decide when I'm finished. Each time I'm on the track, anytime I'm healthy,
I'm the one to beat."
Hysong had his best performance of the year at Commonwealth Stadium, and his
timing couldn't have been better. He cleared 5.85m/19-2.5 to finish third,
Hysong's highest place at a World Championships. Dmitri Markov of Australia
won with a championships record of 6.05m/19-10.25, and Aleksandr Averbukh of
Israel was second at 5.85. American Tim Mack finished ninth with a clearance
of 5.75m/18-10.25.
Averbukh beat Hysong on misses, just as Hysong finished ahead of fourth and
fifth place finishers Michael Stolle of Germany and Romain Mesnil of France,
both of whom made 5.85. Hysong had one miss at 5.85 - his only miss of the
night before 5.90m - which Averbukh cleared on his first attempt.
The men's 200m was nothing short of astonishing, with thousandths of a second
separating second through fourth place. Running in lane 6, American Kevin
Little came off the turn in the lead, with Shawn Crawford in lane two last.
Olympic champion Konstandinos Kederis of Greece assumed the lead and provided
the only easy determination of finish in the race, winning in 20.04 seconds.
The field then moved to form a virtual straight line at the finish, with
Crawford moving up strongly in the final meters. Only Marlon Devonish of
Great Britain, in lane 8, was off the pace.
It was minutes later before Christopher Collins of Jamaica was declared
second in 20.20, with Crawford third and Kim Collins of St. Kitts and Nevis
fourth, both timed in 20.20 as well. The result was later revised to place
Crawford and Collins in an official tie for third.
Christian Malcom of Great Britain was fifth in 20.22, Stephane Buckland of
Mauritius sixth in 20.22, Little seventh in 20.25 and Devonish eighth in 20.38
In the only final for U.S. women on Thursday, Debbi Lawrence was the top
American in the 20k race walk, finishing 18th in a season's best time of
1:37:57. Jill Zenner was 25th in 1:42:43. Michelle Rohl was disqualified.
For their performances, Johnson and Lawrence were named the Xerox Athletes of
the Day.
Qualifying rounds went extremely well for the Americans. Team USA placed
three women in Friday's final of the 200m. Marion Jones (22.40) won her heat,
and Kelli White (22.54 personal best) and LaTasha Jenkins (22.63) were second
on their heats. Defending world champion Inger Miller was fourth in her heat
in a seasonal best 22.82 and did not advance.
Three men's long jumpers will compete in their final on Saturday. Savante
Stringfellow let loose with a personal-best jump of 8.33m/27-4 on his first
attempt to automatically qualify for the final on Saturday and post the best
jump of the day. Dwight Phillips qualified sixth with a jump of 7.95m/26-1,
and Miguel Pate qualified eighth at 7.89m/25-10.75.
All four women's 100m hurdlers moved easily into the semifinals, with
Anjanette Kirkland (12.69 season best), defending World Champion Gail Devers
(12.71) and Jenny Adams (12.80) winning their heats. Donica Merriman was
third in her race in 12.88 and also advanced.
Hazel Clark moved on to Friday's semifinals, placing fifth in the first and
fastest heat of the first round in 2:00.56, the sixth-fastest time of the
day. Paul McMullen was fifth in his heat of the men's 1,500m in 3:39.48 and
automatically advanced to the semifinal round. Gabe Jennings (3:46.07), and
Seneca Lassiter (3:44.50) were 11th in their respective heats and did not
advance.
Seilala Sua and Kris Kuehl qualified for Saturday's women's discus final.
Kuehl was fifth overall in qualifying with a throw of 62.63m/205-5, and Sua
was seventh (62.54m/205-2). Suzy Powell was 18th (58.19) and did not make the
final cut.
In the women's 5,000m first round, Marla Runyan was ninth in her heat in
15:24.30, with Amy Rudolph 15th in 15:46.77. In the second heat, Elva Dryer
was 11th in 15:26.04. None of the three advanced to the final.
For complete Team USA quotes, visit www.usatf.org. For complete results,
visit www.iaaf.org.
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